Objective: This study aimed to develop a causal model of death anxiety based on coping strategies and meaning in life, with resilience as a mediating factor among elderly individuals. Methods: A descriptive-correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied. The sample consisted of 384 older adults selected through convenience sampling in Tehran City, Iran. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires on death anxiety, resilience, coping strategies, and meaning in life, and analyzed through SPSS and AMOS software. Results: The proposed model showed an acceptable fit to the data. Direct path coefficients revealed that coping strategies, meaning in life, and resilience were negatively and significantly associated with death anxiety. In addition, resilience played a significant mediating role in the indirect relationships. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the protective role of resilience and the significance of meaning in life in reducing death anxiety among the elderly.
Objective: This study compared the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and the unified protocol (UP) for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders on emotional expressivity in women diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Methods: This clinical trial employed a pre-test-post-test with a three-month follow-up design and one control group. The study population included women aged 20–40 years with a confirmed SAD diagnosis based on the structured clinical interview for (diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th edition) DSM-5 and elevated social phobia inventory (SPIN) scores, recruited via convenience sampling from counseling clinics in Ahvaz City, Iran, in 2024. A total of 45 participants were randomly assigned to three groups (ACT, UP, or control), each with 15 participants. The ACT and UP groups received eight 90-minute weekly sessions, while the control group remained on a waiting list. Emotional expressivity was assessed using the emotional expressivity scale (EES). Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: Both ACT and UP led to significant improvements in emotional expressivity and its subscales (positive, intimacy, and negative expressivity) compared to the control group, with gains sustained at follow-up. Notably, both interventions were equally effective in enhancing emotional expressivity. These findings highlight the clinical utility of ACT and UP in improving social functioning for women with SAD. Conclusion: ACT and UP are equally effective in fostering lasting improvements in emotional expressivity, offering valuable therapeutic options for SAD.
Joint attention (JA) deficits are frequently one of the earliest indicators of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), making them a crucial focus for early interventions. Despite the importance of JA, existing interventions often face barriers such as high costs, limited adaptability, and resource demands. Virtual reality (VR) offers a novel, immersive, and flexible approach that may overcome these challenges by creating engaging and individualized environments for children with ASD. This protocol describes a randomized controlled trial evaluating a VR-based intervention designed to improve JA and related social-communication skills in school-aged autistic children. Participants will receive either VR therapy plus standard interventions or a sham VR condition plus standard interventions. The primary outcome is JA performance, with secondary outcomes focusing on broader social communication abilities. By testing this innovative, technology-supported intervention in naturalistic school settings, the trial aims to provide high-quality evidence on the feasibility and potential impact of VR as a supplemental therapy for autism. Key limitations include the relatively small sample size and short-term follow-up, which will guide recommendations for larger, long-term studies.
Objective: Bilingual students frequently encounter unique challenges that can hinder their academic self-efficacy and the development of effective self-regulation strategies. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI) assistant and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in enhancing academic self-efficacy and self-regulation among bilingual students. Methods: Conducted in 2023-2024, this experimental study employed a pre-test-post-test and one-month follow-up design with a control group. A total of 105 Persian-Arabic seventh-grade bilingual male students from Ahvaz City, Iran, were multi-stage cluster sampled and randomized into two 35-member experimental groups (AI assistant, ACT) and one control group. Over 8 weeks, experimental groups received either “Monica” AI or structured ACT sessions, while controls received conventional education. Academic self-efficacy and self-regulation data were collected. Repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni corrections analyzed inter-group differences. Results: The study’s findings unequivocally demonstrated that both the AI assistant and ACT interventions significantly improved students’ academic self-efficacy and self-regulation when compared to the control group (P<0.001). Furthermore, the AI assistant exhibited a notably more pronounced positive impact on both measured variables than ACT, which itself proved more effective than traditional teaching methods (P<0.001). Conclusion: These outcomes highlight the considerable potential of integrating technologically advanced and psychologically supported interventions to back the academic development of bilingual students. Conclusively, while both AI and ACT provide advantageous pathways for cultivating essential academic skills, AI-powered tools appear to offer a distinctly superior and more scalable approach for this specific demographic.
Objective: Family functioning profoundly influences individual psychological resilience and well-being. This research sought to examine the psychometric properties, including validity, reliability, and standardization of the Persian family adaptability, partnership, growth, affection, resolve (APGAR) questionnaire among adults living in Tehran City, Iran. Methods: This psychometric study, conducted in a cross-sectional design from May to June 2025, employed convenience sampling for participant recruitment. The questionnaire was translated using the forward-backward method. Validity was determined by conducting face validity (item-impact scores), content validity, criterion validity (correlation with the family organized cohesion scale [FOCS]), and construct validity (conducted via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using average variance extracted [AVE] and composite reliability [CR] indices). Reliability was determined via test re-test evaluation, Cronbach α, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: A total of 424 Persian-speaking adults (54.9% female; age range: 18–78 years) completed the 5-item APGAR. The instrument demonstrated robust face, content, and criterion validity. Reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach α of 0.808 and an ICC value of 0.897. CFA revealed all factor loadings exceeding 0.6 and a satisfactory CR index (0.807), although the AVE value (0.457) was reported to be below the ideal threshold. Conclusion: The Persian adaptation of the family APGAR is a psychometrically sound and efficient instrument for the assessment of family dynamics in Iranian adult samples. Its application in health intervention programs could enhance the evaluation and promotion of family health. Its brevity and cultural adaptability facilitate early detection of family stress, guiding targeted psychological interventions and enhancing family-centered care in Iran.
Objective: Divorce significantly impacts adolescent girls, increasing their vulnerability to psychological challenges, such as cognitive avoidance and perceived stress. This study compared the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) in reducing cognitive avoidance and perceived stress among adolescent girls (aged 12–16 years) from divorced families living in Izeh City, Iran. Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pre-test-post-test and a 3-month follow-up design with one control group. Sixty adolescent girls from divorced families in Izeh, Iran, were purposively recruited from schools and community centers based on parental divorce status and willingness to participate. They were randomly assigned to three groups (n=20 each: CBT, SFBT, and control) using a computer-generated random sequence with allocation concealment via sealed envelopes. The sample size ensured 80% power to detect a moderate effect size (f=0.25, α=0.05). CBT involved eight 90-minute sessions focusing on cognitive restructuring and coping skills; SFBT emphasized solution-building. The control group received no intervention. Outcomes were measured using the cognitive avoidance questionnaire (CAQ; Cronbach α=0.81) and perceived stress scale (PSS-10; Cronbach α=0.74). Repeated measures analysis of variance evaluated intervention effects (P<0.05), with effect sizes reported as partial η². Results: Both CBT and SFBT significantly reduced cognitive avoidance (P<0.001, partial η²=0.79) and perceived stress (P<0.001, partial η²=0.64) from pre-test to post-test, with effects sustained at follow-up. Both intervention groups outperformed the control group, with no statistically significant difference between CBT and SFBT (P>0.05). Conclusion: CBT and SFBT are effective in reducing cognitive avoidance and perceived stress in adolescent girls from divorced families, with comparable efficacy. These findings support their integration into mental health programs for this population.
Objective: Despite growing recognition of transgender identities, the role of family support in the lives of transsexual individuals post-gender reassignment surgery remains understudied. This study addresses this gap by exploring how familial support influences well-being, social integration, and personal growth in transgender individuals. Methods: Using a descriptive phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 transsexual individuals (5 female-to-male [FTM], 7 male-to-female [MTF]) in Isfahan City, Iran, selected via snowball sampling until theoretical saturation. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s 7-step method to identify thematic patterns. Results: Analysis revealed 11 subcategories grouped into four core themes: (1) hope for life (e.g. renewed motivation for education, self-acceptance), (2) enhanced physical and mental health (e.g. reduced anxiety, improved self-esteem), (3) healthy social participation (e.g. stronger relationships, resilience to stigma), and (4) improved family dynamics (e.g. reduced conflict, mutual respect). Participants emphasized that family support was pivotal in mitigating psychological distress and fostering post-surgery adjustment. Conclusion: The findings underscore the transformative potential of family acceptance, highlighting its role in promoting psychological well-being, social adaptation, and familial harmony among transsexual individuals. This study contributes to the broader discourse on transgender health by advocating for targeted family education programs. However, the transferability of findings may be limited by the study’s focus on a supportive Iranian sample.
Objective: Smartphone addiction among adolescents is associated with academic and psychological consequences, and personality and family factors can act as key contributors to smartphone addiction. Methods: This study examined whether fear of missing out (FoMO) and smartphone addiction mediate the associations of interpersonal sensitivity and family environment with academic procrastination. A cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational design was used. The statistical population comprised female students in grades 10-12 studying in Mashhad City, Iran. A two-stage cluster method was used for sampling. A total of 384 female students completed a short-form family environment scale, interpersonal sensitivity measure (IPSM), academic procrastination test, mobile phone addiction questionnaire, and FoMO scale. Results: The findings revealed significant positive associations among academic procrastination, FoMO, smartphone addiction, and interpersonal sensitivity. Also, family environment had a significant negative correlation with academic procrastination, FoMO, and smartphone addiction. The results of structural equation analysis in the fitted model showed that smartphone addiction and FoMO significantly mediated the relationships between interpersonal sensitivity and family environment with academic procrastination. Conclusion: Weak family connections and interpersonal sensitivity are risk factors for smartphone addiction and FoMO, which ultimately lead to academic procrastination in adolescents.
